In addition to hearing the traditional “Merry Christmas” or “happy holidays,” guests at Gov. John Hickenlooper’s annual yuletide gathering got a bit of a surprise: he’s got a girlfriend.

While Hickenlooper made no formal announcement at the Wednesday cocktail party held in the Governor’s Mansion, several of the guests were quick to let The Denver Post know that the governor had introduced Robin Pringle to them as his girlfriend.

“As they say, good news travels fast,” he responded to our request for confirmation. “Yes, I have been dating a young woman named Robin Pringle. We met more than a year ago, but only started dating some months ago, almost, as sometimes happens, by accident.”

Hickenlooper and author Helen Thorpe, whom he married in 2002, have been separated since July, 2012. The parting was amicable; in their announcement they stated: “Please feel free to include both of us in social gatherings as we will not find it awkward.”

Thorpe has been dating as well. She has been seen lately at events like the Museum of Contemporary Arts Luminocity Gala, where she held hands with Sascha Steinway.

Pringle is vice president/corporate development for Englewood-based Liberty Media. According to her profile on LinkedIn, she earned a bachelor of arts degree in public policy from Duke University in 2000 and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in 2008.

The governor, 62, concluded in his email to the Post, “Robin and I now feel comfortable sharing the fact that we are dating, but like any couple that is embarking on a new relationship, we are asking that our privacy be respected.

“And yes, she is pretty great.”

Hickenlooper was elected to a second term as Colorado governor in November. Inaugural activities Jan. 13 include a sold-out concert with the Lumineers and other bands at the Ogden Theatre, a dinner at the Fillmore Auditorium and a ceremony at the State Capitol.

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John and Anna Sie at the ceremony where University of Colorado regents presented them with the University Medal.

That’s what friends are for:

The Anna and John J. Sie Foundation has made a $1 million grant to the DSST Public Schools. The money is earmarked for the charter school network’s Teacher Career Pathway program, which is dedicated to developing and implementing “concrete ways” to evaluate, develop and retain outstanding teachers.

The Sie Foundation gift also completes a structured grant from John C. Malone, the chairman of Liberty Global, Inc. and Liberty Media Corporation. Last July, Malone pledged $7 million to DSST, $4 million in cash and $3 million to be generated by matching funds.

John Malone, chairman of Liberty Global and Liberty Media, was honored tonight by Denver School of Science and Technology for a gift that will total $7 million. The event held at DSST Stapleton High School, 2000 Valentia St., raised an additional $1 million.

Malone gave an outright gift of $4 million to DSST in 2011 and has pledged $3 for new money raised by DSST through 2013.

DSST Public Schools operates open-enrollment STEM Charter Schools and is part of the Denver Public Schools.

Gov. John Hickenlooper was among the 600 guests, joining event chairs Laura Barton, Mike and Amber Fries, Steve and Kathy McConahey and Steve and Susan Halstedt.

Anna and John J. Sie also were on the leadership team, but were unable to attend as he is recuperating from major back surgery. They were represented by their daughter, Michelle Sie Whitten, who presented a congratulatory message to Malone from her father.

Sugar and spice and everything nice. That’s what little girls are made of.
One of the Colorado Ballet’s most popular fund-raisers turned Sweet 16 this year, when 25 second grade girls were introduced first at the Sugarplum Ball and then again on opening night of “The Nutcracker.”
The ball, held at the Adam’s Mark, was chaired by Anne Cunningham and Marcia Seale, while Jeannine Hutchison and Kim Reifsnider
coordinated the year-long program that led up to the big night. Read more…